Positive Behaviour Policy

Policy details

Date created - January 2024

Date most recently reviewed by governors  - January 2024

Responsibility for review: HeadTeacher

Contents

Policy details        

1. Policy Statement and Purpose
2. Rules and Ways of Being
3. Rights and Responsibilities
4. Developing Positive Behaviour
5. Rewards
6. Classroom Strategies and Expectations
7. Expectations around the Academy
8. Expectations outside of school
9. Consequences
10. Further Interventions and Support
11. Child on Child Abuse
12. Suspensions
13. Permanent Exclusions
14. Searching, Screening and Confiscation

1. Policy Statement and Purpose

At Co-op Academy Friarswood, we need to follow a whole school approach to behaviour that is understood by staff, parents and children. All members of staff must accept their responsibility for establishing and teaching acceptable codes of behaviour using a system of workable rewards and sanctions. We believe it is important to be positive in our behaviour management but within a clear discipline framework that enables all pupils to feel safe and secure. As a staff, we aim to act consistently and respectfully to pupils and each other. Acting as role models to our pupils is vitally important.  As children, we expect all children to act positively and follow this policy whether they are in school or representing the school on school trips, experiences and other activities.

This policy has been written after consultation with the school council, staff, Governors and our pupils in every class. Views of parents have been taken into account using our annual questionnaire data as well as the support of the school council parents.

Our aim is to further develop a fair, consistent and realistic approach to discipline within a calm and friendly atmosphere where children can work free from tension and anxiety.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies (available on the Co-op Academy Trust website and the Co-op Academy Friarswood website):

Anti Bullying

Equality Statement and Objectives

Health and Safety

Positive Handling

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Special Educational Needs

Mental Health and Well-Being

Exclusions

This policy is underpinned by the following legislation and guidance:

Behaviour in Schools - Advice for Headteachers and School Staff

School suspensions and Permanent Exclusions

Searching, Screening and Confiscation - Advice for Schools

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022

Education Act (2002), as amended by Education Act (2011)

Education and Inspections Act (2006)

School Discipline [Pupil Exclusions and Reviews] – England – Regulations (2012)

Equality Act (2010, revised 2018)

2. Rules and Ways of Being

Co-op Academy Friarswood is underpinned by the values of the Co-op and all within the academy aspire to the Co-op Ways of Being:

Succeed together

Be yourself always

Do what matters most

Show you care

We also aspire to follow the Friarswood STAR values:

S – safe  

T – trust & teamwork  

A – achieve  

R - resilience

Golden Rules

Always do your best

Always be kind and respectful to others

School Rules

You should always listen and be polite

You should behave sensibly and kindly at all times.

You should walk quietly on the left hand side of the corridor.

You should hand in your mobile phone to the teacher and it will be returned at the end of the day.

Your playtime snack should be a healthy snack.

You should only wear small stud earrings and watches at school. (Ear-rings and watches must be removed during PE and swimming lessons).

You must go out to play at dinner times and play times unless permission is given by an adult to stay in.

You should put all litter into bins.

You should be suitably dressed for school and the weather.

You should always flush the toilet and wash your hands.

3. Rights and Responsibilities

What can children do to help us achieve these aims?

• Follow the School Rules
• Try their best at all times

What can parents and carers do to help achieve these aims?

• Make sure your child is in school on time and is prepared for the day.
• Collect your child promptly at the end of the day.
• Work alongside the school to educate your child.
• Support the school’s behaviour policy.
• Help your child to understand the school rules and the need for them.
• Label all clothes and other possessions.
• Send your child to school in the appropriate clothing and footwear.
• Continue to support the work of the PTA and the school.
• Discuss concerns about your child in a calm way with the class teacher.

What can staff and helpers in school do to help achieve these aims?

• Be fair and listen to all views when things go wrong.
• Help all pupils to reach their full potential.
• Encourage pupils to make sensible decisions.
• Help children to understand how to stay safe and be there for them in times of need.
• Value each child as an individual and appreciate their achievements.
• Question pupils’ behaviour without shouting or using a threatening manner.
• Stop conflicts and aggressive behaviour before they become serious.
• Respect every child within and beyond school.  
• Have an understanding that individuals learn in different ways and rates.
• Do everything possible to ensure that our School Rules are followed.
• Reward good behaviour as often and as consistently as possible.
• Staff build positive relationships between children and families

4. Developing Positive Behaviour 

Self Esteem   

It is clear that children behave and work most effectively when they feel good about themselves. Some of the ways we achieve this are by:

• Supporting each other.
• Reflecting on their own successes.
• Encouraging positive comments and discouraging negative comments and “put downs”.
• Trying to use praise more than negative criticism.
• Rewarding spontaneous kind and honest behaviour.
• Ensuring that tasks are achievable but also challenging.
• Celebrating all examples of good work.
• Encouraging children to reflect on their own behaviour/work.
• Appointing prefects (Year Six), Team Captains (Year 6), Special Helpers (Reception) and Playground Pal Spotters, school council, eco-warriors, librarians  and playground leaders who take on extra responsibilities.
• Giving children specific important jobs that require additional effort and application and recognising them for it.
• Ensuring all children feel that they are part of the school and the local community. This feeling of belonging helps children develop an ownership of everything within the school and a sense of pride about the establishment.

Self Regulation  

The ultimate goal is for all children to learn to manage their own behaviour. We aim to do this by adopting the following procedures:

• Following Friarswood STAR values.
• Following the Co-op ways of being.
• Through encouraging children to take responsibility for their own actions and be aware of the consequences of their actions.
• Through building good self esteem.
• Through following the school, class and playground rules.
• Through effective use of our rewards and sanctions system.

Self regulation is encouraged differently for different age groups according to their stage of development; Nursery children see life very differently to children in Year 6.  

5. Recognition

The vast majority of our children behave well and are a credit to themselves, their parents and the school. We believe that rewarding children plays a vital part in achieving desired attitudes and behaviour. We constantly reward children for following our school rules and behaving well.

The following rewards are given in school:

• Praise -  This is given either written, orally or through general body language.
• Stickers – Children are given stickers for a variety of reasons e.g. for excellent behaviour, good work, good manners.
• Team Points – Each class operates a team points system in which children receive team points for excellent achievement and behaviour. Points are counted every Friday and the winning team is congratulated. Team points are displayed in the hall for all children to see.  A termly treat is awarded to the team who receives the most team points.
• Special Celebration Assembly held on a Friday – This is held every week and each class selects two stars of the week who receive a certificate and praise. Children are also chosen to receive ways of being certificates.  We also celebrate excellent behaviour at playtimes and lunchtimes.  The school council (usually 2 children) from each class chooses a child who has played in a kind and friendly way and who has been respectful to everyone as well as the play equipment.  These children are awarded with a certificate and given praise in the Celebration assembly.
• We celebrate good attendance in Celebration Assemblies.  Team captains move the thermometer in the hall to show attendance rates for each class.
• Going to other adults for praise - Children are often sent to the Headteacher or other adults and classes to share their super efforts of work and/or behaviour.  This is a lovely opportunity to highlight our shared approach to hard work, behaviour management and praise.  

6. Classroom Strategies and Expectations

Across the academy we have a consistent set of expectations regarding behaviour in the classrooms. We use a system of signals and mantras so that children know what is expected of them regardless of where they are or who is with them:

Magnet Eyes

3-2-1 transitions from one place to another

Team Stop Signal

7. Expectations Around the Academy

Our School Rules in Section 2 summarise how we expect children to behave around the academy.

8. Expectations outside of School

At Co-op Academy Friarswood, we believe strongly in working with parents/carers in all aspects of behaviour whether positive or negative.  When a child is wearing our school uniform then they represent our school and everybody linked to the school however, the child represents our school at any time whether in uniform or not, whether it is a weekday or the weekend.  Therefore, behaviour that is positive will be praised and negative or anti-social behaviour will be dealt with suitably.  By working together with parents and carers, we hope that they support our behaviour policy.  We strongly believe that no matter whether a Friarswood child is in their uniform or not, their behaviour always represents the school and therefore should follow this policy.  If a serious breach or persistent breach of the behaviour policy occurs outside of school, the school will follow this behaviour policy.

9.  Consequences

Although Co-op Academy Friarswood does everything they can to mitigate the need for consequences and sanctions, we know that students do make mistakes. If a student’s conduct falls below the expectations laid out in this policy (including expectations inside and outside school) the following consequences would apply:

Low level disruption / behaviour which stops learning, makes people unhappy or is rude / disrespectful.

• A quiet word
• Being aware but ignoring the attention seeking behaviour
• A look
• A reminder of the rule, which reinforces the need for good behaviour
• Opportunity for an apology
• The incident will be recorded on the Arbor Behaviour Recording System.
• Child asked directly what they are doing wrong and why
• The child may be asked to sit quietly on their own and reflect on their behaviour

All staff give children a chance to stop the poor behaviour by using the strategies mentioned above.    

More serious disruption / behaviour which may cause harm / upset to people or damage property or is consistently low level disruption.

• The incident will be recorded on the Arbor Behaviour Recording System.
• Time out may occur- this is where the member of staff will ask the child who is having difficulty with a particular rule to sit away from the rest of the class and to think about their actions for 10 minutes. The child may be sent to another classroom where they need to write or draw a picture detailing what they have done wrong and how they should have behaved.  The safety of the child is never compromised when children move from one class to another.  
• The child is asked to move to another seat / area of the classroom.  
• The child misses a break or part of a break.
• The teacher contacts the parent to discuss the issues and ways forward.,

Very serious incidents which include any prejudiced behaviour, unsafe behaviour, aggressive behaviour or acts of vandalism, persistent breaches of this behaviour policy and / or a serious breach of this behaviour policy.

• The incident will be recorded on the Arbor Behaviour Recording System.
• The child will miss a set amount of playtimes to give other children time away from the behaviour and to give that child some time away as well.  
• The child will be asked to apologise in writing or through pictures, about their actions.
• The headteacher will see the child and the child’s parents will be contacted.
• If a child continually behaves in this manner, their behaviour will be discussed and the classteacher will start a behaviour support diary for the child. At this point our SENDCo and the parents of the child will be informed and asked to discuss the behaviour in school with the classteacher and/or headteacher.
• The child may be made to miss an activity that they enjoy e.g. a school trip, a sports match or an after school club.
• Depending on the severity of the incident and repeated behaviour of this kind, a fixed term exclusion may occur.  The Trust and the Local Authority will be notified.
• If after 2 fixed term exclusions, the behaviour still causes major concern, the child will receive a permanent exclusion.  The Trust and the Local Authority will be notified.
• If there is a serious breach or persistent breaches of the behaviour policy and where allowing the pupil to remain in school would seriously harm the education and/or welfare of the pupil or others in the school, then the child will receive a permanent exclusion.

10. Further Intervention and Support

Where appropriate incidents, or a series of incidents identified on Arbor, will be referred to the SENDCO or HeadTeacher to make arrangements for further appropriate support or intervention.

Initially a behaviour plan will be drawn up and behaviour targets will be set for the child. Reasonable adjustments will be made.  The safety of the child and other children / adults in the school will be paramount.  These will be shared with the child, the parents and all staff who work with the child. A home/school book will operate so that a consistent approach to behaviour management exists at home and at school. The behaviour plan will be reviewed regularly.

If the child continues to have problems, the school will seek additional support from outside agencies e.g. County Behaviour Support Team, Child and Adolescents Mental Health Service (CAMHs), Social Services, Local Support Team etc.

If a child’s behaviour is adversely affecting the education of other pupils, school will seriously consider excluding the pupil from school.      

11. Child on Child Abuse

Co-op Academy Friarswood is committed to ensuring a climate of safety for all students by challenging inappropriate behaviour between peers. We have a zero tolerance approach of all forms of child on child abuse including (but not limited to):

• Bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying)
• Abuse in intimate personal relationships between peers
• Physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm (this may include an online element which facilitates, threatens and / or encourages physical abuse)
• Sexual violence, such as rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault (this may include an online element which facilitates, threatens and / or encourages physical abuse)
• Sexual harassment, such as sexual comments, remarks, jokes and online sexual harassment, which may be standalone or part of a broader pattern of abuse
• Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party
• Consensual and non-consensual sharing of nudes and semi nude images and / or videos (also known as sexting or youth produced sexual imagery)
• Upskirting, which typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm
• Initiation / hazing type violence and rituals (this could include activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group and may also include an online element

Where there are any reports of child on child abuse, including sexual violence and sexual harassment,  we will follow the guidance set out in Part 5 of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022. The Academy maintains a zero tolerance approach to all forms of child on child abuse and always maintain the attitude ‘it could happen here’. We will always take any reports or disclosures seriously. Any sanctions for child on child abuse will be proportionate, considered, supportive and will be decided on a case by case basis. Sanctions could include managing the incident internally, referring to early help, referring to children’s social care or reporting the incident to the police. Serious incidents could result in permanent exclusion. The Academy will not tolerate behaviour of this nature, whilst also not demonising anyone – we will support and listen to all of the pupils involved. The alleged perpetrator(s) will be offered support so that they can change their behaviour.

For more information on how we deal with child on child abuse please see:

Co-op Academy Friarwood Anti Bullying Policy.

Co-op Academy Friarwood Child Protection Policy.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

12. Suspensions

Very serious incidents which include any prejudiced behaviour, unsafe behaviour, aggressive behaviour or acts of vandalism, persistent breaches of this behaviour policy and / or a serious breach of this behaviour policy.

• The incident will be recorded on the Arbor Behaviour Recording System.
• The child will miss a set amount of playtimes to give other children time away from the behaviour and to give that child some time away as well.  
• The child will be asked to apologise in writing or through pictures, about their actions.
• The headteacher will see the child and the child’s parents will be contacted.
• If a child continually behaves in this manner, their behaviour will be discussed and the classteacher will start a behaviour support diary for the child. At this point our SENCo and the parents of the child will be informed and asked to discuss the behaviour in school with the classteacher and/or headteacher.
• The child may be made to miss an activity that they enjoy e.g. a school trip, a sports match or an after school club.
• Depending on the severity of the incident and repeated behaviour of this kind, a fixed term exclusion may occur.  The Trust and the Local Authority will be notified.

Further information on suspensions can be found in the Trust’s Exclusion policy. For further information on consequences for different behaviours see appendix i

13. Permanent Exclusion

Permanent exclusion is a last resort. A Headteacher may decide to permanently exclude a student for persistent disruptive behaviour, where despite the school's best effort, a student insists on breaching the school's behaviour policy. A permanent exclusion could also be the consequence for a first 'one off' offence, based on the severity of the behaviour. One off offences may include:

• Serious actual or threatened violence against another student or member of staff (including online threats or abuse)
• Assault on a student or member of staff
• Sexual abuse or assault
• Supplying or using an illegal drug
• Carrying an offensive weapon (including any article made or adapted for causing injury)
• Serious one off incidents including ‘Hate’ incidents / crime or bullying

 Further information on permanent exclusions can be found in the Trust’s Exclusion policy.

14. Searching, Screening and Confiscation

The Headteacher has statutory power to search pupils and possessions if there are reasonable grounds to suspect pupils have prohibited items. Searches may also be carried out by members of staff and contractors authorised by the Headteacher. All authorised staff will be up to date with screening and searching procedures as laid out in government guidance .  When conducting searches, the Headteacher will consider the age and ability of students and make reasonable adjustments where necessary. Where possible searches will be conducted with the student present and away from other students  (unless there is reason to believe that significant harm could happen if we wait).

The school can search a student for any item with their consent and in their presence (e.g. turning out pockets / looking in bags). Staff have the power to search (without consent) if they have reason to believe a student possesses any of the following items:

• knives and weapons
• alcohol
• illegal drugs
• stolen items
• tobacco and cigarette papers
• cigarettes
• e-cigarettes
• lighters and matches
• fireworks
• pornographic images
• any article that has been or is likely to be used to commit an offence , cause personal injury or damage to property

Wherever possible, searches will be carried out by two authorised members of staff, or contractor  by staff members of the same gender as the student, and with the student present as a witness. Searches that require physical contact or use of force will always be a last resort. Where the risk is considered significant, they will be conducted by a trained member of staff of the same sex as the pupil, or, if possible, and preferably, by a family member. If this is not possible (due to urgency of the situation) searches will be conducted by a permanent member of staff, with the appropriate training, of the same sex and an appropriate adult (of the same sex). In all cases, only outer clothing will be searched (pockets, bags, shoes etc). No member of the school community will conduct a search that reveals a student’s underwear or skin (beyond shirt sleeves).

Staff will confiscate and retain a student’s property if it is a banned item or any item being used to cause harm to self or others, damage to property, or disruption to the maintaining of a purposeful learning environment. For any confiscated item that is not deemed to be dangerous or potentially / known to be illegal, the confiscating staff member is required to make a proportionate and fair decision about what happens next with the item, for example:

• returning the item to the student at the end of that lesson
• returning the item to the student at the end of that day
• escalating the issue to a member of the year team / senior leadership team
• discussing with the student’s family about how best to return or dispose of the item

Retention of, damage to or disposal of a student’s personal property should not be used as a sanction and confiscation, including how the confiscation is followed up, should only be used to ensure the maintenance of a safe and purposeful learning environment.

Mobile Phones / Devices

Pupils are not allowed to bring their mobile phones to school - for their own safety and security and for the comfort and peace of mind of others.  The exception to this is if a child is walking to and from school on their own.  Parents must give permission for their child to bring their mobile to school.  The mobile must be turned off whilst on the school grounds.

Screening

• If a student refuses to be screened, the school may refuse to have the student on the premises. Health and safety legislation requires a school to be managed in a way which does not expose students or staff to risks to their health and safety and this would include making reasonable rules as a condition of admittance.
• If a student fails to comply, and the school does not let the student in, the student’s absence will be treated as unauthorised. The student should comply with the rules and attend.

Power to use reasonable force  

Members of staff have the power to use reasonable force to prevent students committing an offence, injuring themselves or others, or damaging property, and to maintain good order and discipline in the classroom. Headteachers and authorised school staff may also use such force as is reasonable given the circumstances when conducting a search without consent for knives or weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, stolen items, tobacco and cigarette papers, fireworks, pornographic images or articles that have been or could be used to commit an offence or cause harm.

The academy follows all DfE guidance for searching, screening and confiscation which can be found here:

Searching, Screening and Confiscation - Advice for Schools

Please also see the Co-op Academies Trust Positive Handling Policy for the process of searching and screening and use of reasonable force (available on the school website).

Appendix I - Coding on Arbor (MIS)

We use Arbor to record behaviour incidents. 

In the academic year 2023/24, some secondaries may use Classcharts until they are ready to migrate to Arbor.

There are eleven categories of behaviour incident to allocate any records to:

1. Disruption to learning
2. Community conduct
3. Bullying
4. Preparation for learning
5. Disrespect to adults
6. Disrespect to children
7. Abusive behaviour (protected characteristics)
8. Fighting, physically aggressive or threatening violence
9. Banned items
10. Dishonesty
11. Truancy

These categories will be reported at Trust levels for purposes of trend and outcomes analysis.

Within each category, there are sub-categories to guide staff in recording accurately: